My allergist INSISTS that steroids should work for my allergies and that if I still have symptoms, it is because I have some other issue (i.e. non-allergic rhinitis). He also doesn't believe in food allergies causing sinus inflammation.

Anyone with allergic rhinitis taking steroids and getting little to no benefit? For me, they help, but only modestly.

If they are working only modestly than it could be that you have so much congestion that the spray is simply coating the mucus rather than reaching your nasal tissue. My allergist describes it as putting oil on water. I used to think they didn't work the greatest too until my allergist instructed me to irrigate immediately before using it. Now I can't live without my nasal steroids.

My allergist also instructed me to wait about 5 minutes between my first spray and my 2nd spray. This allows the first spray to start to open you up, and helps the 2nd spray reach deeper into the nose.

Have you had a CT scan? it's also possible you have polyps. My friend had horrible ones that only prednisone could shrink. But eventually she had surgery to remove them.

Anyone with allergic rhinitis taking steroids and getting little to no benefit? For me, they help, but only modestly.

Keep in mind that sometimes you need to find the right steroid spray for you, I have used Flonase, Rhinocort and Nasonex but I got little to none benefit from them until 2 years later when my ENT doctor switched me over to Nasacort which started working right-away.

I hate nasal steriods!! Theya re so bad for you and after long term use they can make you worse which is what they did to me!! I ended up with severe pain in my sinuses because of NasacortAQ and I couldn't figure out why. Finally my ENT looked up into my sinuses and they were so badly inflammed. Seems the spray was causing it at that point. I immediately stopped taking the spray and started to feel better. Unfortunately I still have discomfort now and than in my sinus and I feel it is from the sprays!

I never had much luck with the nasal sprays. I think it was because I was allergic to so many things (20 out of 20 I was tested for). I also do not beleive that food allergies cannot cause congestion. It is even known that migraines can cause congestion so I don't know how food allergies could not. Maybe you need to find a different allergist. I also agree that there are many steroid nasal sprays and it might take finding the correct one.

good luck!
Amanda

I also do not beleive that food allergies cannot cause congestion.

I have food allergies mainly to shellfish and I get all stuffed up. :rolleyes:

Thanks everyone. If the allergist I had seen didn't have a great reputation I wouldn't have held his oppinion in such high regard (he's actually a professor at one of the nation's best med. schools and runs an allergy clinic).

I've spoken with others who attribute much of thier congestion to food allergies, which flies in the face of what the doc. told me. Moreover, I've not met anyone who's allergies were completely relieved by nasal steroids and allergy shots. He made me nervous b/c he seemed to think I had a chronic fatigue syndrome (b/c my symptoms were not resolved by allergy shots and nasal steroids -- and often I don't show classic allergy symptoms, like itchy eyes and sneezing but occasionally feel feverish and have brain fog.). I'm hoping it's just allergies, but no one seems to know. Note: MRI and CT scans were ok - minimal mucosal thickening.

Thanks everyone. If the allergist I had seen didn't have a great reputation I wouldn't have held his oppinion in such high regard (he's actually a professor at one of the nation's best med. schools and runs an allergy clinic).

I've spoken with others who attribute much of thier congestion to food allergies, which flies in the face of what the doc. told me. Moreover, I've not met anyone who's allergies were completely relieved by nasal steroids and allergy shots. He made me nervous b/c he seemed to think I had a chronic fatigue syndrome (b/c my symptoms were not resolved by allergy shots and nasal steroids -- and often I don't show classic allergy symptoms, like itchy eyes and sneezing but occasionally feel feverish and have brain fog.). I'm hoping it's just allergies, but no one seems to know. Note: MRI and CT scans were ok - minimal mucosal thickening.


maybe consider a food allergy blood test. i just went to a natureopath after battlling with allergies for 14 yrs (shots, steroid sparys) nothing really helps that much, so im getting a round of blood work done, and the food thing was something she suggested for my allergies.

Icky, I too once saw an allergist who taught at a university. And frankly, he wasn't half the doctor my allergist from small town South Carolina was. University doctors are very knowledgable, but at the same time I felt he was more interested in research than his patients. His bedside manner was very lacking. And gave me the spiel on what he could do for allergies, and when I basically said I had done all that already with my other allergist and my currant ENT, he seemed miffed. This particular doctor also told me food allergies can't cause congestion, while my ENT is adament that they do. Even though he was a professor, he was older, and I think old beliefs die hard, even though he has access to the latest research. My ENT isn't very long out of med school, and frankly he is more up to date. I got a copy of the allergist's dictation that he sent my primary doctor. He said I was a difficult to manage patient b/c of my "low symptom tolerance." Which is shorthand for whining about 'minor' symptoms.

Don't be scared by this doctor. Trust your gut. From what you said, I think he is throwing out the chronic fatigue thing b/c he is baffled and doesn't like feeling he doesn't have all the answers.

If you wish to give him another chance I agree with trying a different nosespray. Even just the different pump styles could reach your nasal tissues better than another. And definitely irrigate before using it, it really does make a HUGE difference.